The 2022 Atlanta Braves started off a bit slow in the season’s first couple of months.
Since June, however, they played at an incredible 114-win pace.
They were down as many as 10.5 games behind the New York Mets in the battle for the NL East at one point, yet ended up winning their fifth straight division title anyway.
There is no stopping this team, one that appears to have no weaknesses heading to the postseason.
Their excellent performance put them very close to breaking a relevant record.
“Most wins by defending World Series champ, divisional era (1969): 2021 Dodgers: 106; 2018 Astros: 103; 1990 A’s: 103; 1976 Reds: 102; ** 2022 Braves: 101 **; 1971 Orioles: 101; 1978 Yankees: 100,” MLB stats expert Sarah Langs tweeted.
Most wins by defending World Series champ, divisional era (1969):
2021 Dodgers: 106
2018 Astros: 103
1990 A's: 103
1976 Reds: 102
** 2022 Braves: 101 **
1971 Orioles: 101
1978 Yankees: 100— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) October 5, 2022
These Braves May Be Even Better Than Last Year
Atlanta could wrap up its season with 102 wins in the case they earn a victory today.
That would be enough to tie the Cincinnati Reds with the fourth-most wins in a season following a World Series championship in the divisional era.
The 106-win Los Angeles Dodgers lead the list with their 106 wins last year, and the funny thing is that they weren’t enough to win them the NL West because the 107-win San Francisco Giants were slightly better.
What the Braves did this year was remarkable: they overcame the loss of Freddie Freeman and a slow start by Ronald Acuna Jr. to reach 101 wins.
That total is significantly higher than the 88 victories they earned last year en route to the Fall Classic victory.
In other words, the 2022 Braves may be better than their 2021 version, and that’s saying a lot.
This unit has an impressive offense, depth at all positions, a deadly rotation – Charlie Morton, Spencer Strider, Max Fried and Kyle Wright are a top foursome – and an incredible bullpen.
They may be good enough to repeat as champions.
NEXT: The Braves Made MLB History In Several Dominant Ways